If you ever saw something that you were sure you imagined or heard a sound that no one else did - then you know what it's like to attend a show starring the Novaks.
"A magical act so spectacular, it had to be real."
An oh so common statement after...
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It danced with the wind and mingled with their souls. It lived everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They could smell it, feel it and be it. It was something they would chase for miles, even though it was always buried within.
"Calmness. That's the word," June said. "Wait no. That's not it."
She and Luke were kneeled down in front of the garden that sat between the main Masschester farmhouse and the property's circular driveway. June felt good, but she couldn't quite find the word to describe the type of good she was feeling. Her mind had been abuzz with thoughts about the past month since she and her family returned to Old Glasgow. Anna got the kid's homeschool schedule back on track while Josef started a small business selling chicken eggs out of the farm. June got a part-time job at The Little TV Repair Shop working for Mick Pippet. They had family dinners every night since moving back, with Luke even joining them a couple of times. Life was good. The sun bathed everything in its warm glow, Nadear's thunderous stomping in the horse corral reverberated throughout the farm, and the peace lilies in the garden swayed rhythmically with the wind's caress.
"Peace," June said as she stuck her index finger in the air. "No, that's not the word either."
"I'm not sure what word you're looking for but it must be a good one, because it is so sweet to have y'all back," Luke said.
"You have no idea," June replied. "I feel like I can breathe again."
"You worried my dad, though."
"Why?" June asked.
"The Palmers have always found good work with the Masschesters. After all these years, new owners. He's not sure what to expect. I told him not to worry."
June grabbed Luke by the hand. "Your family will always have a place on the Novak Farm."
"New name. I like it," Luke said as he squeezed June's hand. "When I saw your faces walking down that long, jagged road, it lit me up from my nose to my toes. Of course, until I heard about Mr. Nov— I mean Grandpa. Grandpa Novak. He was a special man. Always made me laugh. I'm still so broken up about that, so I can only imagine how you feel."
"It sucks, plain and simple. In my heart, he's smiling somewhere with a rock glass full of scotch in one hand and a deck of cards in the other. The sight of us here at the farm filling him with joy. Seeing his family with a little less worry and a little more rest and relaxation. Ah, maybe that's the word, relaxation... No, that isn't it either."
Luke yanked a weed from the garden. "It happened though."
"What?" June asked.
"The world finally allowed you to use your talents to give your family a better life."
"Yeah, it seems so." June tilted her watering can and watched the water seep into the garden's soil. "It's funny. I had to travel across the world to realize what I was searching for was right in front of me."
"It's been quite a ride for you since you got here."
"Was it all worth it, though?" June asked.
"That's the funny thing about life," Luke replied. "I suppose. You never really know. You just try to believe."
"Right. Believe that on some level it was all worth it. It meant something. This wild ride."
"Makes you wonder." Luke grunted as he yanked another weed from the garden. "For me, things got interesting when you first came here to the farm. You were invited here, right? Your grandpa?"
"Yeah, we were. He got a letter from..."
June stopped mid-sentence. The wind whipped through her hair and wooshed in her ears. It carried the sweet scent of the peace lilies right to her nose. June's thoughts slowed as the floral tickled her senses and Nadear neighed in the distance. June closed her eyes. Her mind made sense of it all. The dots connected, if even only for a moment. She could see every puzzle piece and feel every beat.
June looked at the peace lilies. She listened for Nadear. Her eyes grew wide like her grandpa's used to. Then she smirked like her old friend, Kora.
